| Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take | | | | face. Now I don't mean climb a ladder but just don't |
| a lot of photos. But if your photos still have trees | | | | ever, and I mean ever, point your camera looking up |
| coming out of your father's head, mom has red eye, | | | | to a person. We all look fat and bloated at that angle. |
| and your beloved pet is never facing the camera | | | | Also don't shoot just face on to the person, try a |
| then here are some tips to help you take better | | | | little to the side, a three quarter view, so that you |
| photos. | | | | see more of their face. Remember camera higher |
| 1. Always be aware of the background. I know this is | | | | looking down and a three quarter view, it will slim |
| the hard one but it is critical. If you're setting up a | | | | your subject. |
| shot take a quick look at what is behind the people in | | | | 5. Remember your focus, are you taking a photo of |
| your shot. So many perfectly good photos are ruined | | | | mom and the tree, then take mom with the whole |
| by a tree seeming to grow out of a person's head. It | | | | tree. But if you're taking a photo of mom next to a |
| can be as simple as the person taking one full step to | | | | tree do we really need to see the entire tree? Get |
| the right or left to move the obstacle that would ruin | | | | closer to your subject. We can see some of the tree |
| your photo. | | | | bark with mom leaning against it, but showing the |
| 2. Use available light. If your digital camera has an | | | | whole tree is a waste. Remember this tip with |
| option to turn the flash off and it's light enough | | | | children, many people take a shot of their dear child |
| outside to read a book then use the available light | | | | for an expression on the child's face, but in the |
| and turn the flash off. In general camera flashes are | | | | printed shot the child is lost next to another kid, the |
| too harsh for human skin and make all of us look | | | | swing set, and the dog. Remember get closer. |
| pale. (Even better if your camera has a fill flash use | | | | 6. Never put your subject dead center. All family |
| that indoors where there isn't enough daylight, and | | | | photographers do this and it's as hard of a habit to |
| place the person by a window as well.) | | | | break as remembering to look at the background. But |
| 3. Use ambient soft light. The reason that so many | | | | if you've moved closer to your subject remember to |
| of use pose people under trees, and end up with the | | | | put them just sightly off center. Not a lot just a bit. |
| ruined photo with a tree coming out of dad's head, is | | | | When you're shooting even groups of people this is |
| that we all instinctively know that soft light is best. | | | | especially easy but odd numbered groups is a little |
| Sunlight filtered through a trees' leave is beautiful and | | | | more difficult. Just find your imaginary center line of |
| warm. It warms up the skin and puts a soft light to | | | | your group and put that line just a bit off center in |
| the features. Indoors near a window with drapes has | | | | your view through your lens or screen. |
| a similar effect. | | | | With these tips you can be on your way to taking |
| 4. Aim your camera slightly down at the person's | | | | better photos today. |